Dodgers-Mariners: Bats Stay Quiet For Blue Crew in 4-2 Loss

The Los Angeles Dodgers (48-28) lost their fourth game in the last five tries on Sunday afternoon as they dropped the rubber match of a three-game series against the Seattle Mariners (39-36).

The Dodgers offense was once again unable to produce enough runs for starter Hiroki Kuroda.

Kuroda (2-4) encountered a difficult second and third inning, but threw the ball well aside from those blips on the radar. On the day, he went six and one-third innings and allowed four runs on nine hits. He also struck out five Mariners.

Jose Lopez got things started in the second inning when he singled to right field with just one out.

He quickly stole second base to get into scoring position. It was the first stolen base of the season for Lopez. Franklin Gutierrez then knocked him home with a seeing-eye single to center field that put the Mariners on top 1-0.

In the third, Kuroda once again retired the leadoff batter before allowing three consectutive singles in the third.

Adrian Beltre had the last single driving home Ichiro and making it a 2-0 Mariners lead.

Lopez then capitalized with runners in scoring position and two out when he stroked a double off the wall in center field. Matt Kemp appeared to have a beat on the ball, but couldn’t quite run it down. The double plated both Russell Branyan and Beltre and extended the lead to 4-0.

It would be all the offense the Mariners needed.

Garrett Olson (3-2) earned the victory and had five innings of quality work, surrendering two runs on just four hits.

In the fifth inning, Matt Kemp leadoff with his 10th home run of the season, just clearing the right field wall to cut the deficit to 4-1.

Andre Ethier added a sacrifice fly later in the inning, scoring Juan Castro who singled earlier, and making it a two-run game at 4-2.

That would be as close as the Dodgers got as they collected just one hit from the sixth inning on against relievers Miguel Batista, Mark Lowe, and David Aardsma.

They were unable to score on a Mariners bullpen that leads the Majors in ERA (2.75) from the seventh inning on. Aardsma worked a perfect ninth and earned his 16th save of the season.

The loss made it two straight series losses for Los Angeles and was the first time they have lost back-to-back series since Aug. ’08.

**I attended the game and sat in the Dodgers Club, directly behind home plate. Be sure to check back on Tuesday for a photo album of the game**

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WP: Olson (3-2)

LP: Kuroda (2-4)

SV: Aardsma (16)

Notes from Sunday afternoon:

Where Did All the Runs Go?

After an 8-2 win on Friday night, the Dodgers had scored five or more runs in six straight games.

They scored just one run on Saturday and two on Sunday, both losses.

Dodger Stadium Woes

Since beginning the season with a record 13-game winning streak at home, the Dodgers are just 13-12 at home.

Playing Through the Pain

Adrian Beltre was playing in his final game before undergoing surgery to repair bone chips that have been bothering him most of the season. He is expected to miss four-six weeks.

Said Ken Griffey Jr. of the situation: "It's a big blow that we're losing him for a period of time, but hopefully we can keep it going and have some fun until he gets back.”

Two-Out Master

Jose Lopez collected two more two-out RBI with a double in the third inning. He leads the Mariners with 15 two-out RBI this season.

Lopez was playing in just his fourth game since returning from Venezuela, where he tragically lost his sister last week. He went 8-12 in the series against the Dodgers.